Emergent colloidal dynamics in electromagnetic fields

Abstract

We present a current review of the collective dynamics that can arise in colloidal systems subjected to electromagnetic fields. The focus is on phenomena that are not simply understandable purely from a dipolar model, but instead emerge from the collective behavior of many discrete interacting components driven out of equilibrium by external forces. We examine in particular the fascinating diversity of large-scale dynamical structures that arise due to the interplay between the induced interactions, time-dependent energy injection, and coupling with the fluid flow. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.